Well, this is a solid 3 as opposed to a polite 2.5. The characters/plot didn't make me twitchy.

Still, there are things that keep it from rating higher. Newfs - Large black canines?! In some distant galaxy/time? Riiiiight. Also, a heifer who produces milk. Uh... I'm pretty sure that under natural circumstances, that isn't likely. Yeah; we have large black canines called Newfs, cows and draft horses. Also brandy and wine. Hmmm...

Something that I didn't comment on in the first book of the series - a futuristic set a long time ago in a galaxy far far away should not have somewhat common Earth names like say, Michael, Agatha, etc.